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Juliette Teunissen

Where to Take Your Parents to Eat & Drink in San Francisco?

Updated: Feb 25, 2020

Looking for places to eat & drink in San Francisco? Make sure to check out the SF Food Finder - pick the area, cuisine, price range, food/drink you want to consume, reservation/ delivery options, etc and the finder will generate customized recommendations.


Your parents are coming to visit you and you want to seem like you have your life together but have no clue where to take them? Well have no fear - here’s a list of places to eat/drink when your parents are in town. With an overall top 5 (+1) places and my favorite place to go per cuisine/neighborhood, here is a list of places that are parent-friendly with options that are great for when they foot the bill, are guaranteed to have space last minute, and/or will show your parents you know the real SF and that you’re doing all right in the city.


OVERALL TOP 5(+2)

Slanted Door

$$$ - Vietnamese - Embarcadero

This is one of my favorite places in San Francisco and where my family always wants to go to when they visit. Not just because it was where we ate when we first visited the city but because the food is delicious and right on the water in the Ferry building. Try to make reservations in advance (a week is pretty necessary for Friday/Saturday night) but if you line up around 5:15 before the 5:30pm dining service start, you will be guaranteed a table (definitely possible but with quite a wait later in the night).


Atelier Crenn

$$$ - French/Molecular Gastronomy - Cow Hollow

Sub - Petit Crenn

$$$ - French (Tasting Menu) - Hayes Valley

If you have something to celebrate, really want to wow your parents (and benefit from their open wallets), go to Atelier Crenn. This is French chef Dominique Crenn’s signature 3 Michelin star restaurant with an elaborate multiple course tasting menu (and a hefty $400+ price tag) - check out the Chef’s Table episode to see it for yourself.

N.B. All Crenn's restaurants are now land meat free.

If you want a similar experience but want a more “affordable” and relaxed meal, then her 2nd restaurant Petit Crenn in Hayes Valley has a great (seafood forward) menu at $105.


Cotogna

Right in the Financial district just north of the Transamerica Pyramid, Cotogna is a bustling Italian restaurant with a very broad menu with something for everyone.


Tonga Room and Hurricane Bar

For a very fun and unique experience, take your parents to the Tonga Room. This tiki bar and restaurant in the Fairmont Hotel has a floating live band surrounded by hourly rain showers - on a first come first serve basis (unless they're guests), get a table with food or grab an open table or space at the bar and check out this very cool spot.


Osha Thai

Osha has some of the best Thai food in the city and is a great sit down restaurant. The Embarcadero location doesn't have a lot of reservation possibility but is definitely doable for walk-ins plus they have two nearby locations to try from. A very easy option that is bound to please.

+

Arsicault

The lines can go very long for the Richmond pastry shop particularly before work hours and on weekend mornings but they move quick and it's very worth it - owner Armando Lacayo time-honed croissants helped Arsicault win Bakery of the Year by Bon Appetit in 2016. The chocolate almond croissants are truly incredible (this is coming from someone who grew up in France and is very picky about their croissants) and the kouign ammans are a must try - try the new Civic Center location for much smaller lines!


FAVORITES BY CUISINE

Argentine/Steakhouse/Latin American

Lolinda

$$$ - Mission


Vietnamese

*Slanted Door


Japanese

Ozumo

$$$ - Embarcadero

This Japanese restaurant near the Ferry Building has lots of different rolls, yummy grilled options and both a great lunch & dinner menu - your parents will enjoy the atmosphere and sleek decor.

Italian

*Cotogna

Runners up: Flour & Water/A16/Che Fico/Cento Osteria


New American

Tartine Manufactory

$$ - Mission

This New American restaurant is always a crowd pleaser - delicious food with lots of flavor and a fun bustling vibe.


Thai

*Osha Thai


Burmese

Burma Superstar

$ - Inner Richmond

Show your parents a side to SF and a new cuisine they might not have seen before at Burma Superstar. They might, however, recognize the Tea Leaf salad from the Food Network. They do not take any reservations (there is a Yelp Waitlist) so either get there early or try the Oakland location/one of their multiple spin off restaurants.

Café

Mazarene

$ - Downtown

Runner Up: Sightglass


American

Waterbar

$$$ - Embarcadero


Ice Cream

Birite Creamery

$ - Mission


Californian

The Snug

$$ - Pacific Heights


French

*Petit/Atelier Crenn


Mediterranean

Noosh

$$ - Pacific Heights


Bakery

*Arsicault


Bar;Hawaiian

*Tonga Room


Indian

Rooh

$$$ - Indian


Brunch

eight am

$$ - Brunch


Pizza

Il Casaro

$$ - Castro/North Beach


FAVORITES BY AREA

Mission Flour + Water

$$$ - Italian

No trip to San Francisco is complete without going to Flour + Water. This super popular Italian spot in the Mission serves great dishes your parents will love. Definitely try to make a reservation in advance - if the wait’s too long then check out their nearby Pizzeria for a more casual meal.

Runner Up: Tartine Manufactory, Birite Creamery, Lolinda, Sightglass


Embarcadero

*Slanted Door

Runner Up: Ozumo and Waterbar


FiDi

*Cotogna


Marina

A16

$$$ - Italian


Cow Hollow

*Atelier Crenn


Fillmore The Snug

Runner Up: Noosh


NoPa

Che Fico

$$ - Italian


Richmond *Arsicault

Runner Up: Burma Superstar


SOMA

Rooh

Runner Up: Sightglass


Downtown

Mazarene


Haight

Sightglass

$ - Cafe


Downtown

Mazarene

Hayes Valley

*Petit Crenn


Fisherman's Wharf

eight am


Nob Hill

*Tonga Room


South Beach

Cento Osteria

$$ - Italian


Castro + North Beach

Il Casaro


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